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Polypropylene/linear low‐density polyethylene blends: Morphology, crystal structure, optical, and mechanical properties
Author(s) -
Wang Jingbo,
Dou Qiang
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.27769
Subject(s) - materials science , gloss (optics) , composite material , toughness , tacticity , linear low density polyethylene , polyethylene , nucleation , polypropylene , low density polyethylene , crystallization , spherulite (polymer physics) , polymer blend , izod impact strength test , elastomer , polymer chemistry , polymer , ultimate tensile strength , chemical engineering , copolymer , polymerization , chemistry , organic chemistry , coating , engineering
The morphology, crystal structure, crystallization behavior, optical, and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blended with metallocene linear low‐density polyethylene (mLLDPE) and Ziegler–Natta linear low‐density polyethylene (zLLDPE), with and without nucleating agents, were investigated. The correlation between the structures and optical properties was investigated. The addition of linear low‐density polyethylenes (LLDPEs), nucleating agents, and poly(ethylene‐ co ‐octene) (POE) had little influence on the crystal form of the iPP. The growth along the b axis was favorable in the presence of nucleating agents and LLDPEs. The LLDPEs led to much finer crystal morphologies, and the nucleating agents further prohibited spherulite formation; consequently, light scattering from the bulk crystalline structure was reduced. In all blends, biphase morphology was observed, and POE could improve the adhesion between the iPP and mLLDPE. After blending with LLDPEs, the haze and stiffness decreased, and the gloss increased. mLLDPE enhanced the toughness whereas zLLDPE had a slight influence on it. The nucleating agents decreased the haze, increased the gloss more, and ameliorated the stiffness; however, they changed the toughness little. POE increased the toughness of the blend significantly, accompanied by a much lower haze, higher gloss, and almost the same stiffness. When the concentration of 1,3 : 2,4‐bis(3,4‐dimethyl‐benzylidene sorbitol) exceeded 0.25 wt %, the optical properties and mechanical properties leveled off. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009